Racecards
16:50 Leicester
Ladbrokes.com Handicap (Class 4)
- 8 Runners
- Distance: 5f 218y
- Going: Good to Soft
- Surface: Turf
- Form 232251
- Age 3
- Weight 9-10
- Official Rating 77
- Trainer M Blanshard
- Jockey F Norton
held up in touch, improved 2f out, ridden to lead well inside final furlong, all out
- Form 548124
- Age 3
- Weight 9-4
- Official Rating 77
- Trainer J Gallagher
- Jockey J P Spencer
chased leaders, ridden halfway, weakened over 1f out
- Form 43015-7
- Age 3
- Weight 9-4
- Official Rating 77
- Trainer D R C Elsworth
- Jockey J Mackay
close up, ridden over 2f out, weakened final furlong
- Form 091-848
- Age 3
- Weight 9-1
- Official Rating 74
- Trainer M & D Easterby
- Jockey Adele Rothery
went left start, hampered, pulled hard, headway to lead halfway, ridden, edged left final furlong, headed well inside final furlong
- Form 653418
- Age 3
- Weight 9-1
- Official Rating 74
held up in touch, ridden, outpaced halfway, kept on under strong pressure inside final furlong
- Form 821914
- Age 3
- Weight 8-13
- Official Rating 72
- Trainer B Ellison
- Jockey P Cosgrave
chased leader, ridden halfway, kept on one pace
Viva Volta
29- Form 1000-16
- Age 3
- Weight 8-10
- Official Rating 69
- Trainer T D Easterby
- Jockey M Fenton
led, headed halfway, soon ridden, stayed on same pace
- Form 0339-9
- Age 3
- Weight 8-8
- Official Rating 67
- Trainer G & J Moore
- Jockey Richard Hughes
hampered start, chased leaders, ridden halfway, weakened over 1f out
- Form 578147
- Age 3
- Weight 9-4
- Official Rating 77
- Trainer J F Coupland
- Jockey Stacey Renwick
Nonrunner
In depth
Verdict
Rapsgate is probably better than his run at Newmarket last time would suggest and is worth another chance on earlier winning form at Nottingham so gets the vote ahead of Viva Volta and Peter Island. The last mentioned has been running well of late and would have claims if handling the testing conditions today but he has yet to prove himself on ground this soft, while The History Man, who does go on the ground has disappointed so far this term. Sounds Simla seems plenty high enough in the weights on his return to turf, while Spearit may need another run to put him spot on. Tim Easterby's Viva Volta is less exposed than most of these and would have claims if handling the ground but Rapsgate is proven under the conditions and he gets the vote.
Formwatch
Gavarnie Beau (IRE) 13-2 (9-3) Chased leaders, switched left well over 1f out, led well inside last, driven out, won at Haydock 6f 3yo hcp (4) hvy beating Garstang (8-6) by a hd, 8 ran.
Peter Island (FR) 7-2 (8-4) Led, ridden over 1f out, headed towards finish, 4th of 10, 1/2l behind Ooh Aah Camara (8-8) at Chester 6f 3yo hcp (3) gf.
Spearit (IRE) 12-1 (8-13) Went badly left start, in touch, ridden halfway, soon beaten, 7th of 9, 7l behind Terentia (9-2) at Windsor 5f 3yo hcp (4) gs.
The History Man (IRE) 3-1jt-fav (9-1) Went left start, led, ridden and headed over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, last of 8, 21l behind Gavarnie Beau (9-3) at Haydock 6f 3yo hcp (4) hvy.
Rapsgate (IRE) 11-1 (8-10) Held up, never on terms, 8th of 12, 7l behind Ripples Maid (9-2) at Newmarket 6f 3yo fll hcp (4) gs.
Sunderland Echo (IRE) 25-1 (8-6) Prominent, ridden over 2f out, headway over 1f out, switched left inside final furlong, running on when soon hampered, not recover, 4th of 8, 3l behind Skhilling Spirit (8-11) at Haydock 6f 3yo lst stk (1) hvy.
Viva Volta 7-1 (9-3) Mid-division, ridden and headway over 2f out, one pace and no impression final furlong, 6th of 16, 10l behind European Dream (9-2) at Newcastle 1m 3yo hcp (5) gf.
Sounds Simla (IRE) 6-1 (8-5) Slowly into stride, behind, never near leaders, 7th of 9, 6l behind City For Conquest (8-12) at W'hampton 5f 3yo clm (6) pol in Mar.